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"Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided"
-Centers for Disease Control

Why are screenings important?
The risk of getting colorectal cancer increases with age. Over 90% of cases of colorectal cancer occur in individuals 50 years old or older, which is why early screenings are important. According to The Centers for Disease Control, colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps. Precancerous polyps are abnormal growths found in the colon or rectum.Colonoscopies can find precancerous polyps, allowing them to be removed before they turn cancerous. Colorectal cancer can also be detected during colonoscopies, leading to early treatment.

Risk factors of Colorectal Cancer
According to The American Cancer Society, several risk factors have been found by researchers that may increase a person's chance of developing colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer. Although not all risk factors can be prevented, it is important to be aware of how lifestyle can help prevent colorectal cancer:

Age - Younger adults can develop colorectal cancer, but the chances increase markedly after age 50; More than 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are older than 50.

Personal history - If you have a history of adenomatous polyps (adenomas), you are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. This is especially true if the polyps are large or if there are many of them.

Inflammatory bowel disease- If you have IBD, your risk of developing colorectal cancer is increased, and you may need to be screened for colorectal cancer more frequently. (Inflammatory bowel disease is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not carry an increased risk for colorectal cancer.)

Family history - Most colorectal cancers occur in people without a family history of colorectal cancer. Still, as many as 1 in 5 people who develop colorectal cancer have other family members who have been affected by this disease. Those with a history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps in one or more first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, or children) are at increased risk. The risk is about doubled in those with a single affected first-degree relative.

Certain types of diets- A diet that is high in red meats and processed meats can increase colorectal cancer risk. Cooking meat at very high temperatures (frying, broiling, or grilling) creates chemicals that might increase cancer risk, although it's not clear how much this might contribute to an increase in colorectal cancer risk. Diets high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains have been linked with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, but fiber supplements do not seem to help.

Physical inactivity- If you are not physically active, you have a greater chance of developing colorectal cancer. Increasing activity may help reduce your risk.

Obesity- If you are very overweight, your risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer is increased. Obesity raises the risk of colon cancer in both men and women, but the link seems to be stronger in men.

Smoking- Long-term smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop and die from colorectal cancer. Smoking is a well-known cause of lung cancer, but some of the cancer-causing substances are swallowed and can cause digestive
system cancers, such as colorectal cancer.

Heavy alcohol use- Colorectal cancer has been linked to the heavy use of alcohol. It is recommended to limit alcohol use to no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.

Type 2 diabetes- People with type 2 (usually non-insulin dependent) diabetes have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Both type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer share some of the same risk factors (such as excess weight).

Racial and ethnic background- For unknown reasons, African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rate of all racial groups in the United States. Also, Jews of Eastern Europe descent have one of the highest colorectal cancer risks of any ethnic group in the world.

3 Apps That Will Help You Sleep Better

Catch up on your zzzs this weekend by trying out these sleep-inducing apps.
By Melissa Romero

There's nothing better than getting a good night's rest. But in this high-stress, high-power city, it can be pretty tough to actually get yourself to fall asleep. Fortunately, these apps for your smartphone are here to help.

1. Proactive Sleep
This popular app not only tracks your sleeping pattern, but it also helps pinpoint certain behaviors that might be preventing you from getting enough sleep. By keeping a daily sleep diary, you're able to keep track of how much sleep you get every day, how difficult it was for you to fall asleep, and your average bedtime and sleep amount.
The app also asks you to track your daily habits, including exercise, diet, productivity, mood, caffeine intake, and medication use-all behaviors that sleep clinicians typically ask patients to track. As a bonus, there's a selection of sounds that will help you fall asleep, such as crickets chirping or wind howling.
Available for: iPhone and Android
Price: $0.99

2. Sleep Cycle
For more ways technology is taking over, look no further than the Sleep Cycle bio-alarm clock. By placing your iPhone by your head on your bed, the app is able to monitor your movement and wake you up when you are in your lightest sleeping phase. Another cool feature: It provides a graph that plots when you were awake, dreaming, or in a deep sleep during the night. Worried it may wake you up too late if you're in a deep sleep? No worries-Sleep Cycle will go off within a 30-minute window of your set time. Users should note that the app may take a couple of days to adjust to your body and sleeping patterns.
Available for: iPhone. For Androids, try a similiar app called Sleep as Android.
Price: $0.99

3. Pzizz Sleep
It's all about the sounds with this app. Sure, it'll set you back $10, but most reviews have said Pzizz Sleep is totally worth the investment. It allows you to choose from thousands of ambient sounds and adjust the length, volume, and voice. The app then mixes all of the sounds in various ways-Pzizz will never play the same soundtrack. According to the company, it's "like getting a new relaxation CD or guided sleep track every day for the rest of your life." There's also a lite version for $1.99, but users have complained about its lack of choices.
Available for: iPhone and Android
Price: $9.99

We are a distinctive primary care office and Executive Physical center founded on traditional family medicine values, caring for a limited number of individuals and families through a fee-based membership practice (concierge-style practice). This uniquely low ratio of patients per doctor, allows very personalized, proactive care by the doctors and staff alike. Our entire staff's focus is on the coordination and implementation of care plans, for both acute and chronic issues, as well as prevention.

EHS offers individuals, families and our partner-companies' key employees the synergy of an exceptional medical care and Executive Physicals along with the even more important, 24-7-365 personalized care and follow-up necessary for optimization of one's health.

Through our healthcare-concierge services and personalized care, we make healthcare convenient and hassle free for our clients. We are your partner in decision making as well as your medical advocate. The EHS care model provides the medical care you need and the peace of mind you deserve in today's fragmented, impersonal health care system.

For our corporate partners, this results not only in better health for their key employees, but improved productivity (reduced absenteeism and presenteeism), improved recruitment and retention, and a proven positive return on investment.